this island is in SHAMBLES. i mean RUINS.

[tidaldrum]

[no. literal ruins. it is an island of ruins. mythology nuts, ruin lovers, fossil collecters............ all are welcome!

anyone is welcome, actually. why? because there's a chance of finding a fossil!!!

as well as an equal amount of chances to find things that look like a fossil but aren't. like an old amber with nothing in it. incredible.

and wouldn't you know it, but there's a fossil revival lab on this island too! it's pretty unmanned, but there's books with instructions on how to revive your very own DESTRUCTIVE DINOSAUR MONSTER.

so hey! come on! make a friend! throw your enemy into one of the ruin's dozen puzzle rooms! ffall to your doom! whatever you want!

TREASURE AND RARE POKEMON AWAIT]

Comments

[savedover]

Hmm... [For a moment, he seems like he's seriously considering it.] As tempting as that would be, no. It will serve as the rigid component of the splint.

[Silver holds the ruler up, measuring Ethan's arm. Once he's determined how long it needs to be, he breaks the stick over his knee with a loud snap.]

[tidaldrum]

[Both Ethan and his baby jump -- to his credit, he doesn't flinch half as much as she does. Haphap starts up the sniffle routine too, and she doesn't stop until Ethan's bouncing her lightly on his knee. As bad of a dad kid he can be towards his Happiny, he still cares about her. A dirty look for you, Silver Coco.]

Geez -- you mind doing that a little softer next time? If there's a next time. [He hopes there isn't. Getting medical care from Silver doesn't sound quite as charming as never breaking another bone again.] She's easy to scare!

[Isn't it cute, he finally cares about his crybaby.]

[savedover]

[Silver discards the part of the yardstick that is too short for his purposes, looking up at Ethan with a sour expression.]

I could. As long as you don't mind dealing with jagged edges that would probably give you splinters. [Silver reaches into his large front pocket, pulling out an unopened box of gauze.] Hold out your arm so I can wrap it up, moron.

[It's the farthest thing from cute. In fact, Silver would even consider it pathetic that Ethan is using the baby to cover up the fact that he himself was badly startled by the sound.]

[tidaldrum]

[Easy on the nicknames, Silv. Ethan might fall in love with you. (Gag.)

He does so, keeping his other hand on his slowly subduing Happiny. His knee's bouncing less too, eventually coming to a stop.]

You do know my name, right? [Come on.] Saying it instead of some dumb insult a three year old could come up with isn't gonna kill you.

[savedover]

Ah. I nearly forgot. Take your jacket off-- I'll use it to make a sling. [While Ethan gets that settled, Silver will open up the box.] I know what it is. I just don't prefer to use it.

[tidaldrum]

[It's a lot harder taking off his jacket than he thinks it's going to be. He struggles with shouldering it off after he gets it zipped down, and his happiny's little arms aren't much better (though they do, at least, get his shoulder sleeve off). At least gently tugging it away from his left arm is easier, even if by the end of it he's got tears stinging at the edge of his eyes.

Broken bones suck. And he sounds considerably less grumpy and a lot more strained when he starts speaking again; it gets better the longer he talks though.]

The Silver I knew was like that too. He didn't started saying my name until... He asked me if I was me in Goldenrod, I guess, when I tried sneaking into the tower dressed as a Rocket grunt, and he said it in Ecruteak too, but I don't think we were on serious name-to-name basis until Mt. Moon in Kanto.

[A long time! Talking is better than trying not to cry (which is for sissies) so Silver's gonna have to deal with it.]

He's not nicer than you for sure, but he's not as dumb. Or maybe he is, because he keeps thinking he'll beat me one of these days. He's great to battle next to though. I mean, Ferafera can take care of pretty much anything and anyone, especially a couple of dragons, but it was still a lot of fun to battle with him instead of, like, against him. If that makes sense? [...not a lot's fun anymore.] He told me he'd come back as my toughest challenger yet, and the only thing tough about him is trying not to laugh in his face about it. He'd probably shove me into the water and that stuff's freezing, you know? It's coooold in Blackthorn.

[A pause. Dude hates his voice right.]

Be gentle with me, okay? I'll talk more the more unnecessary pain you put me through.

[savedover]

[Silver watches Ethan intently, expression stony and difficult to read. He doesn't doubt that the task, although simple, is difficult and painful for him-- but it has to be done, even if that means he has to listen to Ethan babble.

... even if it's just babbling, there's something he loathes about listening to Ethan talk about the Silver he "knows".]

We aren't the same person. Don't talk as if we are. [His tone is, perhaps, a little sharper than it should be. Once the hoodie is off, Silver will take it and set it aside.] I'm going to use this ruler to immobilize your arm. It's not going to stop hurting. Once it's wrapped up and in a sling, you should go visit the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy will be able to help you get it in a cast.

[tidaldrum]

Okay.

[If he was Lyra, he'd make a joke about Silver sounding jealous. But he's not, so he won't. He'll just steel himself and ... continue to talk about his rival, because there's room to keep on.

(So much for not trying to provoke his help.)]

You guys aren't, but you've still got similarities. And even if there's a lot different between the both of you, what's the same seriously sticks out. I can't tell if those are your worst qualities either! [Huff. Besides.] You probably compare me to that "Gold" you know anyway. Why can't I do it with the Silver I know.

[savedover]

[Silver grits his teeth. It's impossible to completely ignore Ethan's babbling, especially when they're so close. He works quickly, holding the splint firmly to Ethan's arm as he wraps it up in the gauze.]

Because I don't assume that you and I have the same relationship as Gold and I do. [When he finishes wrapping the splint and immobilizing Ethan's wrist, he neatly tucks the end of the gauze into the splint.] The reasons I dislike you are completely different from the reasons why I hate him. You and I are effectively strangers, no matter how much your attitude reminds me of his.

[He pauses, frowning a little as he checks his handiwork.] Let me know if that's too tight-- I'll loosen the gauze.

[And now, to tie Ethan's jacket into a sling so he can be done with this emergency first aid for a dumbass.]

[tidaldrum]

[Ethan grits his teeth. It's true, but it's not something he's going to lose sleep over. He leans his chin on his hand, lips pursed as Silver works.]

Me and the Silver I knew didn't have any kind of "relationship" or -- [Ethan's not taking it That Way, but relationship can mean friendship, too.] He was some jerk who thought he was stronger than everyone else, and Ferafera and I pretty much proved him wrong. I'm pretty sure he just thinks I'm a nuisance or obstacle or whatever, and he's just a petty thief that's starting to learn that you gotta trust and love your Pokémon for them to do any better for you.

[So they're not friends, but they're not enemies. Rivals, maybe. He could count the Silver he knows as a "stranger" too, for all he actually knows about him.]

Anyway, it's fine. Thanks again for taking some precious time out of your day to help me out. I [gross] appreciate it.

[savedover]

Oh, please. If you don't have any ties to him, why do you keep talking about him? Why do you keep talking to me? [Just like any of his other movements, Silver quickly and efficiently fashions Ethan's jacket into a sling.] Now, hold still, while I tie this in place.

[He doesn't respond to Ethan's thanks. He doesn't need, want, or appreciate them. Don't thank him, that's gross!]

[tidaldrum]

[He'll hold still, if only because he's thinking on Silver's questions. He's tired of the other boy brushing off his answers as thoughtlessly said.]

Because... [He purses his lips, but realizes: this is ridiculous. It's as ridiculous as breaking his wrist. As ridiculous as Silver actually setting it for him. Maybe, by now, he's just tired.] Why should I even answer, huh? You don't care.

[savedover]

[Since Ethan is holding still so nicely, it doesn't take long for Silver to get his arm settled into the sing.]

Fair enough. My assessment of you can stand as-is, then. [Silver rises to his feet and brushes his hands off on his slacks.] Now get out of here and go get some proper medical attention. You need to get that wrist in a cast, or else it will never heal properly.

[tidaldrum]

I like talking to you. [It's blurted out before he can stop to think on it. Not -- exactly what he wanted to say. Ethan nudges his Happiny off his lap before he stands; the sling feels weird, but not as weird as trying to explain himself.] I mean -- er --

[Give him a second.]

You're fun? [He's fun to mess with, but unfortunately no scenario ever goes the way Ethan pictures it so it ends up more frustrating than fun.] No, that's not it. I mean, it is -- like, things were pretty boring in Johto? And it's been not-boring since the lab and here and...

[...Silver's assessment of him isn't going to change much, so he just waves his good hand dismissively.]

You're frustrating and difficult, and it feels great to get you worked up over something since you take everything else so easy.

[Maybe Silver just makes him feel accomplished? Putting feelings into words has never been his strong point.]

[savedover]

[Silver was all ready to ignore Ethan so he could leave without embarrassing himself further, and-- then he just started talking., and every single word out of his mouth just gets stupider and stupider. He feels, somehow, both mortified and angry, although he's finding difficult to pinpoint why. All he knows is that, by the end of it, he's absolutely sick of listening to Ethan.]

I'm not here for your entertainment. [He turns on his heel and recalls his Croconaw in one swift movement, before flouncing towards the door.] Loser.